Scalia and Breyer Go At It Once Again

How is the U.S. constitution meant to be read by the judges who interpret it? As it was written and ratified back in the 1780s? Or are its words and phrases meant to change along with a society’s customs, mores and viewpoints?

It’s a debate that’s roiled the justices on the U.S. Supreme Court for years; a divide currently embodied in Justices Antonin Scalia and Justice Stephen Breyer (pictured). Scalia’s an unapologetic “originalist,” while Breyer, author of a book called Active Liberty, tends to push for a more expansive reading of the Great Document.

On Tuesday, the duo talked about their interpretive differences down at the U.S. Supreme Court. In the words of this AP story, they “tried to explain why their differing views of judging so often lead them to opposite conclusions when the topic is abortion, the death penalty, gay rights or physician-assisted suicide.” Click here for the National Law Journal story, as well.